Theory of Planned Behavior Factors Influencing E-cigarette Use Among Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Patricia Motos-Sellés, María Teresa Cortés Tomás, José-Antonio Giménez-Costa
Abstract
Abstract Purpose of Review The increased use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among adolescents, with the associated risks, has become a public health problem. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the variables that influence the use of e-cigarettes to develop preventive tools adjusted for this population. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) allows us to analyze the variables that underlie consumer behavior, but few studies have applied this theory. This review investigates which variables of the TPB most strongly influence the e-cigarette consumption behavior of adolescents. Recent Findings Of the 16 studies reviewed, only one considers all the variables included in the TPB. The remaining studies evaluate only one or two of the variables, with consumer attitudes being the most studied. Most studies agree that favorable attitudes toward the use of e-cigarettes and social norms favor the intention and behavior of using these devices. This relationship is more consistent among teenage who smoke. On the other hand, the perceived control of e-cigarette consumption behavior had an effect only on nonsmoking adolescents, as their intention to consume was reduced when they perceived difficulties in accessing e-cigarettes. Summary This review offers a more concrete view from the perspective of the TPB of the variables that affect the use of e-cigarettes, providing a theoretical basis for the development of measures more adjusted to the needs of this group. However, many of the studies reviewed are cross-sectional. More longitudinal and experimental research that encompasses the entire dimensionality of e-cigarette smoking behavior is needed.